JPH0670877U - Agricultural product sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Objective] A large amount of agricultural products can be identified, and the manufacturing cost of the device (S) is reduced by simplifying the circuit configuration (E). [Composition] The agricultural product is subdivided into a large number of channels in front of the observation window of the observation station (V) and allowed to flow down.
An optical sensor 34 is associated with each channel to form one area. When selecting agricultural products, do not distinguish them into individual grains and perform discrimination based on the intensity of the flow illumination when they flow down through an illuminated observation room without distinguishing between individual grains. On the other hand, continuous scanning is performed by the multiplex method.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a device for optically selecting agricultural products.

[0002]

[Background of device]

 U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,029 relating to the present inventor relates to a two-color sorter for agricultural products. These sorters detect unacceptable agricultural products based on the color of products such as coffee beans and peanuts. In addition, some agricultural products are relatively small, usually granular, such as rice grains, and these are only sorted by a single color, that is, gray level, and if the dark products are rejected as rejected products. Good. U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,484 relates to a device for single color selection of this type of agricultural product. However, in order to improve sorting accuracy, the grains must be maintained in a continuous stream at regular intervals. Therefore, the grain volume is limited, and the sorting machine processes at regular intervals. To improve productivity, it is necessary to add a sorter.

[0003]

[Summary of device]

 The present invention reveals a new and improved sorter for agricultural products, especially small granular products such as rice. Sorting of produce is based on the intensity of the illumination as it flows past the illuminated observation chamber. Agricultural products are created with many parallel streams falling downwards before entering the observation station. It is not necessary to separate and scan the product into individual grains in this stream. Therefore, the productivity of the sorter is improved and the sorting accuracy is also improved. Many channels are provided in the observation room with as many optical scanning stations as product streams. The product stream is illuminated by a fluorescent lamp in the observation chamber and detects the amount of light reflected by the product stream passing through it, usually a single color, and removes rejected products that are detected. is there.

Each of the optical scanning stations has a plurality of optical sensors arrayed therein which sense a subdivided portion of the observation room in front of the scanning station. The optical sensor senses the product when it is in front of the scanning station and forms an electrical signal representative of the sensed light. The signal from the optical sensor on each channel is continuously sampled or multiplexed and sent to an electronic processing circuit where it is compared with a reference signal to determine if the product is acceptable. If they are not acceptable, they will be removed.

By subdividing the image area existing in front of the optical viewing station channel into many areas, one area for each of the optical sensors, and in a multiplexed manner. By continuously scanning, the sorting speed and productivity are remarkably increased, and also contribute to the improvement of sorting accuracy. Furthermore, there is no need to separate the product and run individual grains continuously at regular intervals.

In addition to the fluorescent lamp that is the main illumination of the product, a background fluorescent lamp is provided to form the background illumination level of the observation room. The lamp sensitivity is adjustable. Once set, the lamp will be automatically monitored and controlled. The intensity of the current that operates each fluorescent lamp is also monitored and compared to the maximum rated value. When the actual current flowing through the lamp exceeds the rated value, an indication is given to that effect.

The sorting machine of the present invention operates under the control of a timing circuit to periodically extinguish a fluorescent lamp for illumination to reverse the polarity of the voltage applied to the lamp. The observation chamber is automatically blown with air for the same amount of time that the polarity of the lamp is reversed, removing dust and fine particles.

In a preferred embodiment of the sorter of the present invention, two independent sorters are used, one sorter being provided on top of the other sorter. Only the products discharged as rejects by the upper sorter are sent to the lower sorter, and the products that are actually passed are collected from the products.

[0009]

[Description of the preferred embodiment]

 In the drawings, reference numeral S (FIG. 1) indicates the whole of the sorting apparatus according to the present invention, which sorts small granular products such as rice grains. An upper sorter U and a lower sorter L are attached to the frame F of the sorter S. A power source P (FIGS. 1 and 15) is provided in the frame F to generate operating power and apply an appropriate bias voltage to the sorting machines U and L. The sorters U and L have the same structure and operation except for the position in the frame F. Therefore, only one explanation will be given, but it will be understood that other ones have similar structures and functions.

The sorting device S (FIG. 1) is provided with an upper hopper (10) in which the products to be sorted are provided with suitable means, for example a conveyor device driven by an auger. Accumulated through. The product is received from the upper hopper (10) and passes through the chute (12) in the lower horizontal section. The product in the receiving chute (12) spreads out and falls onto the slanted corrugated tray (14) at the rear, where the product grains are observed by optical observation station V (Figs. 2 to 4). Aligned in a number of parallel grooves equal to the number of channels. The corrugated tray (14) is actuated by a vibrating motor (16), which moves the product to be sorted to the rear and drops it into a forward-sloping feed tray (18).

The feed tray 18 is corrugated, has the same number of grooves as the upper tray 14, and is attached to the upper portion 20 of the frame F. If necessary, the groove width of the lower sorter L should be narrower than that of the upper sorter U so that the flow of the descending product becomes more strictly a flow of individual grains. You can also

The products in each stream to be sorted descend from the corrugated tray (18) to the space (22) (FIG. 2) in front of the focusing lens (24) of the optical station O (FIG. 3). go inside. One optical station corresponds to each groove in the tray (18). The product stream does not necessarily have to be an individual separation of the grains, for example multiple grains may be present at the same time before each focal lens (24).

Each of the optical observation stations is provided with a focusing lens (24) (FIGS. 2 and 3), and the lens (24) forms a part of an optical portion for the apparatus A to select, and a space (22) is provided. The existing light is focused on the scanning photocell (28) through a narrow slot (30) formed in the masking disc (32). The scanning photocell 28 of each optical observation station O is formed by aligning a plurality of photodiode cells 34 (FIG. 9) in a line. The scanning photocell (28) is mounted on the preamplifier board (36) (Figs. 2 and 4) in the covered electronic chassis (38) (Fig. 1) of each of the upper and lower sorters U and L. .

The control panel 40 (FIGS. 1 and 7) is attached below the electronic chassis (38) with a cover of each of the sorting machines U and L. Illumination of the space (22) of the observation station V is supplied from a pair of illumination fluorescent lamps (42) (FIGS. 2, 8 and 18). A background illumination fluorescent lamp (44) (FIG. 2) sends a reference or background illumination signal to reflector (46), which provides illumination to lens (24). The background illumination is set to an appropriate level so that rejected products and accepted products can be distinguished and selected. If the product passing through the space (22) is darker than the reference or background level set by the lamp (44) for a constant product flow passing in front of the optical station O, then the ejector solenoid (48) Is activated (Fig. 8) and blows air from ejector J (Fig. 2) to force rejected products into the waste chute or hopper (50). Accepted products pass from the observation station V through the transport chute or the member (52), and then from the member (52) through the jogo (54) (Fig. 1) into a suitable container such as a bag. Can be put in.

The rejected product is conveyed to the supply chute (14) of the lower sorter L 1 through the waste chute (50) of the upper sorter U 1. This is because the reject stream sent from the upper sorter U may contain grains to be accepted, which is to pass the product as a stream rather than breaking it into individual grains. This is because the same sort of selection work is performed again by the sorter L.

The funnel or feeding member (54) shown in the drawing is not attached to the lower sorting machine, but a conveyor device is provided instead of the lower sorting machine L to discard the product rejected and discharged from the lower sorting machine L. Alternatively, it can be returned to the upper hopper (10) for sorting with the new incoming product.

The electric circuit of the sorting apparatus S of the present invention includes an electronic processing circuit E (FIG. 8) of each channel for sorting products in the observation station V, and a power source P for the sorting machines U and L. It includes a lamp control circuit K inside. The electronic processing circuit E of each observation channel includes the sorting optics (FIGS. 2 and 3) of each station of the optical station O. The optical station senses the optical state of the observation station V adjacent to the optical station and supplies an electric signal representing the sensed optical state to a preamplifier circuit (56) (FIG. 8). The sensitivity of each channel of the preamplifier circuit (56) is controlled by the gain control circuit (58) (FIGS. 9 and 10) of the preamp prefire.

The preamplifier circuit (56) outputs an electric signal indicating an optical state sensed in front of a specific optical station O 1 in the observation station V 1 to an amplifier circuit (60) of the circuit E of the channel. ) (FIGS. 9, 10 and 11). The channel sensitivity circuit (59) is provided for each channel and adjusts the sensitivity of a predetermined channel. The signal amplified by the amplifier circuit (60) is sent to the classification circuit (62) (Fig. 8), which allows the products flowing in the individual grooves to pass the observation station V. Depending on the darkness of the product, it is determined whether the product is acceptable or not acceptable.

The classifying circuit (62) of the circuit E further regularly adjusts the amplifier circuit (60), which will be described in detail later. When a reject indication is formed in the classification circuit (62), a suitable delay circuit (64) is provided by the delay circuit (64) so that the rejected product can be passed from the optical station O to a position in front of the ejector J. Time passes. In the ejector J, the ejector solenoid drive (68) is excited by the ejector pre-driving circuit (66) and the ejector drive circuit (68), and air is blown into the product stream to divert the rejected product stream. Then send it to the chute or funnel (50).

In the lamp control circuit K, the lamp 70 (FIGS. 8 and 18) receives operating power from the power supply circuit 72 (FIGS. 8 and 14). Illumination sensitivity circuit (74) (Figs. 8 and 1
6) and the lamp control circuit 76 (FIGS. 8 and 16) to adjust the illumination intensity of the lamp 70. The timing control circuit 78 (FIGS. 8 and 17) periodically reverses the polarity of the DC driving bias of the lamp 70 through the lamp start circuit 80 (FIGS. 8 and 18). The timing control circuit (78) periodically actuates the observation chamber cleaning solenoid (82) in the observation station V to blow dust and accumulated fine particles from the observation station V. If such a thing exists, it may affect the sorting accuracy. The timing control circuit (78) further controls the operation of the feeder (16) while the lamp start circuit (80) and the observation room cleaning solenoid (82) are operating.

The electronic processing circuit E (FIG. 9) will be described in detail. An appropriate number of photocells (34) are arranged in a line in one of the optical stations O. The spacing is equal to the width of the area to be focused by. The photocell (34) is electrically connected to the gain reference potentiometer (86) and the low pass filter (88) through the associated preamplifier (84) in the preamplifier circuit (56). To be done. In the electronic processing circuit E (FIG. 9) connected to the alternating current, the connection capacitor (90) is connected between the potentiometer (86) and the low pass filter (88). In the case of the electronic processing circuit E (FIG. 10) connected to direct current, there is no connecting capacitor at all. The DC connection type does not have the capacitor (90) and the gain control is automatically performed periodically by the classification circuit (62) of the amplifier circuit (60). The structure and the function of any electronic circuit E of the DC connection type are the same as each other.

The low-pass filter (88) of each optical sensor (34) arranged in a line in a predetermined optical station O is electrically connected to an analog multiplexer (90), and the multiplexer is classified as a class. In response to the address command sent from the dividing circuit 62 (FIG. 13) through the conductors (92, 94 and 96), the electric signal from the preamplifier (84) is selectively and continuously sampled.

The signal is thus sent to the amplifier (98) (FIG. 9) under the control of the multiplexer (90), which is fed from the potentiometer (102) through the conductor (100). Receives an offset bias signal. The signal from the amplifier (98) is provided as one input to the comparator amplifier (104), which separates the sensitivity level signal from the channel sensitivity circuit (50) (Fig. 11) through the conductor (106). Receive as input. The comparator (104) senses whether the darkness of the image appearing in the sensing photodiode (34) exceeds a preset sensitivity for the specified channel. When the image brightness is insufficient, the comparator (104) outputs the classifier trip output signal (105) (FIG. 19) through the OR gate (108) (FIG. 9) for a suitable time, for example, about 25. The monostable multivibrator or one-shot (110) is excited by supplying for microsecond, and the ejector pulse (111) (FIG. 19) is formed for 1/2 to 2 milliseconds.

The ejector pulse (111) is sent from the multivibrator (110) (FIG. 9) into the shift register (112). The shift register is activated by clock pulses (113) (Fig. 19) from the oscillator circuit (114) (Fig. 9). The frequency of the clock pulse (113) from the oscillator circuit (114) controls the speed and movement of the ejector pulse (111) from the multivibrator (110) through the shift register (112), which may be unsatisfactory or abnormal. When the dark grain product is sorted, it will be in front of the ejector jet J when the ejector solenoid (48) is excited. The ejector pulse (111) is formed in the multivibrator (110) through the shift register (112) after a lapse of 4 to 8 milliseconds, and the pulse excites the transistor (116) to generate the pulse (117) (Fig. 19) and sends a signal through the ejector pre-driver circuit 66 and the ejector driver circuit 68 to activate the ejector solenoid 48.

The multivibrator (110) of each selection channel is periodically activated by the ejector test signal of a specific channel from the gate circuit in the classification circuit (62) (FIG. 13) through the conductor (118). You can also The bypass conductor (120) (Fig. 9) is connected to the output of the comparator amplifier (104), and the signal is fed directly from the comparator (104) to the shift register (112), which is detected as a fail and the full condition. Since the time interval of is usually much longer than the time interval of the ejector pulse (111), we try to prevent it from passing undetected. As a result, it is possible to take a long time to detect the dark spot, so that it is not overlooked during the reset time of the multivibrator (110).

The inhibit transistor (122) (FIGS. 9 and 10) is connected to the conductor (120) and the multiplexer (90) is the next continuous optical sensor for the first half of each time slot of the channel. The path of the signal from the comparator amplifier (104) is grounded or inhibited while the switch is performed. The transistor (122) is excited from the classification circuit (62) (Fig. 13) through the conductor (124). The gate 108 is electrically connected to the ejector test on / off switch 128 (Figs. 7 and 9) provided on the control panel 130 (Figs. 1 and 7) through the conductor 126. There is.

The sensitivity control signal of each channel of the observation channel O is formed in the channel sensitivity circuit (59) (FIG. 11). The signal is shown for a conductor (106), emitted by the potentiometer (132) of that channel, and connected through an amplifier (134) to the overall or common sensitivity control potentiometer (136). Adjustment of potentiometer (136) is controlled by knob (137) (FIG. 7) on panel (130). The sensitivity signal of each channel is sent to the comparator amplifier (104) of the specific channel (FIG. 13) through a conductor such as (106).

In the case of the DC-connected electronic processing circuit E (FIG. 10), the amplifier (138) (FIG. 11) generates a gain reference signal and, through the conductor (142), in the gain control feedback network (146). It is sent to the integrating comparator amplifier (144) (FIG. 10). The output of the amplifier (144) (Fig. 10) is sent to the light emitting diode of the gain control network (146) (Figs. 10 and 11) and the resistance of the photosensitive resistor in the network (146). Control. This resistance is connected to the input of the amplifier (98), and the gain of the amplifier (98) is adjusted periodically by controlling the resistance.

A classification signal (147) (FIG. 22) is formed for each channel of the observation station V of the comparator amplifier (104) and is passed through the conductor (148) to the gate (108) (FIGS. 9 and 12). Sent. If there is a rejected product in the chamber before the observation station V, an ejector pulse (111) is formed and the ejector solenoid (48) is operated in the same manner as described above. In the delay circuit 64 (FIG. 12), the transistor (150) is electrically connected to the inhibition input of the multivibrator (110) of each channel. The transistor (150) and the resistor (152) and the capacitor (154) connected to the transistor start the ejector test function with a slight time delay, during which the multivibrator (110) is suppressed, and this time The ejector pulse (111) is prevented from being formed until the time elapses.

The classification circuit (62) (FIG. 13) includes a time slot control circuit (160), which sends a scan control signal through the conductors (92) (94) (96) to the multiplexer (90) ( 9 to 11), the optical sensor arranged in the observation channel or the optical station O is continuously scanned. In the time slot control circuit 160 (FIG. 13), the oscillator controlled by the master voltage (161) supplies the master frequency signal 162 (FIG. 22) having a frequency of about 80 kHz. The oscillator is connected to a 4-bit binary counter (164) through a logic level conversion transistor (163). When input to the transistor (163), the counter (164) can be kept at different logic levels between the logic level of the oscillator (161) and the logic level of the counter (164). The binary counter (164) outputs the 4-bit count signal shown in FIG. 22 and activates the decode buffer circuit (165). This causes the multiplexer 90 to sequentially select the optical sensors O aligned through the conductors 92, 94, 96, respectively. The scanning speed of the multiplexer (90) is about 20 kilohertz.

The inverter gate (166) reverses the bit one-count logic level from the counter (165) and inhibits it through the conductor (124) by the inhibit pulse waveform (167), and the first of each photodiode (34). Detects 1/2 cycle optical state. The gate (108) and the multivibrator (110) are disabled in the first half of each scanning cycle. In this way, the spikes or transients (168) (FIG. 22) formed during each switching operation of the multiplexer (90) are detected as unwanted dark spots in the sorted product. Will be suppressed.

In the DC-connected embodiment of the present invention, one of the photodiodes 34, eg, the last photodiode in the row, is separated from the descending stream of product into each observation station O. It is installed at a different position and gain control is performed to detect the background illumination level. The gate (169) is connected to an appropriate bit such as the third bit and the fourth bit of the counter (164), and after being inverted in the gate (170), the inhibition pulse (171) is formed and each photodiode is scanned. There should be one background-sensing time interval between cycles. While sensing the background, the background illumination of the viewing station V in front of the photocell 28 is monitored. The inhibit pulse from the gate (170) is sent from the buffer (165) to the delay circuit (64) through the conductor (124) (FIGS. 9, 10, 12 and 13) while sensing the background. Avoid classifying or sorting while sensing the background. This deterrent function works similarly for the lamp reversal deterrent function when the polarity of the illumination lamp (42) is reversed, which will be explained later.

Another declassification function is performed by the diode (174) through the conductor (176) when the ejector test switch (128) (FIGS. 7 and 12) is activated. When the ejector test switch (128) is activated, operating power is further supplied to the frequency control oscillator (180) in the ejector channel selector circuit (182) of the classification circuit (62) through the contactor (178) (Fig. 13). Supplied. Oscillator 180 determines the frequency at which pulses should be sent to ejector E on each channel. The frequency of oscillator 180 is controlled by potentiometer 184, which is adjusted by ejector frequency control knob 196 (FIG. 7) on panel 130. When the ejector of a channel is selected and tested by the counting circuit (182), the indicator light emitting diode (185) (Fig. 7) of the panel (130) is also energized and such a test is currently being performed. Is displayed. The indicator light emitting diode (185) also displays the ejector work in normal sorting work.

The channel test counter circuit (182) (FIG. 13) is operated by an oscillator (188), which passes through a pair of up / down control gates (192) to a 4-bit digital counter circuit. Activate (190). The gate (192) is operated by the up / down control switch (194) (Fig. 7) of the front panel (130), and counts the pulses stored in the counter (190) (Fig. 13). Control) whether to add or subtract each pulse from. Activation of the oscillator (188) is controlled by the change test channel button (196) on the panel (130). The count stored in the counter (190) of the test channel counter circuit (182) is sent to the decoding circuits (198) (200) to be decoded in association with the pair of parallel NOR gates (202), and the ejector solenoid ( 48) indicates that it should be tested.

In the case of a DC connection type (FIG. 10) sorter S, an analog switch (203) (FIGS. 10 and 13) is provided, and a gain adjustment operation signal (204) (FIG. 22) is sent to the conductor (205) ( 10 and 13). The analog switch (203) is activated by the signal (204) detected by the gate (206) at the output of the gate (170) and sent through the buffer (165) during the last two scanning cycles of the counting circuit (160). is doing. In this way, the observed condition sensed by a channel is sent to the reference amplifier (144) and the photosensitive resistor (146) through the electronic processing circuit E to adjust the attenuation at the input of the amplifier (98), Compensate for the background condition of optical station O. During this time, signals are sent through the conductor 124 (FIGS. 9, 10, 12 and 13) to inhibit ejector operation.

The ejector pre-drive circuit (66) (FIG. 14) conducts with the transistor (206) when receiving the input signal from the delay circuit (64). The integrating amplifier (208) connected to the collector of the transistor (206) then begins to accumulate charge, creating the voltage that is sent to the comparator amplifier (210). The output of the comparator (210) is connected to the collector of the transistor (212). During the normal sorting operation, the pulse from the delay circuit (64) passes through the transistors (206) (212) and excites the power transistors (216) (218) as shown in (214) of FIG. Short pulses can be generated and operating voltage can be passed from the current limiting resistor (220) to the coil (222) of the ejector solenoid (48) that drives ejector J. At this time, the indicator light-emitting diode (185) of the channel on the panel (130) (Fig. 7) is excited, indicating that the ejector (48) is in the state of receiving current.

The transistor 206 becomes conductive when a relatively long trip signal of the order of a few seconds is generated, as shown at (226) in FIG. With the beginning of signal (226), the output of integrator (208) (FIG. 14) begins to increase, as shown by waveform (228). At one point in time of the signal, as shown at (230), the output of the integrator (208) exceeds the bias level applied to the comparator (210) by the bias forming network (232), at (233). As shown, comparator 210 is in the opposite or clamped state. For the remainder of the long trip signal waveform (226), keep the output of the comparator (210) at a level that limits current flow through the power transistors (216) (218) and allow the ejector (48) solenoid (48) to It prevents excessive current flow through 222) and prevents damage to the solenoid (222). At the end point (234) of the trip signal (226), the voltage at the output of the integrator (208) begins to decrease as indicated by reference numeral (236) and reaches the position indicated by reference numeral (238). Here, the input to the comparator (210) is not released.

In the lamp power control circuit 72 (FIG. 15), operating power is sent to the electronic control on-off switch (244) through the input lines (240) (242). When the switch (244) is closed, the AC of the lines (240) (242) is sent from the transformer (246) to the appropriate DC power supply circuit (248). At this time, the cooling fan (250) and the lamp filament transformer (256) (FIG. 18) receive operating power from the lines (240) and (242). The lamp on / off switch (252) mounted on the control panel (254) (Fig. 5) controls the power supplied from the lines (240) (242) to the lamp power supply transformer (257) (Fig. 15). The lamp power supply transformer (257) supplies a DC voltage to the lamp circuit (70) from the controlled rectifier network (258) through the line (260) (Figs. 15 and 18), and the lamp (42). ).

The solid state relay (262) (FIG. 15) of the circuit (72) is electrically connected to the lines (240) and (242). When the lamp switch (252) is closed, the relay (262) allows current to flow from the ejector on / off switch (264) attached to the control panel (254) (Fig. 5), so the line (240) The AC voltage at (242) (Fig. 15) passes through the transformer (266) and the rectifier circuit (268) and through the conductor (270) to supply the operating power supply bias to the ejector drive circuit (68) (Fig. 14). The transformer (272) receives an AC voltage when the switch (264) is closed, supplies DC operating power to the feeder power control (275) through the rectifier network (274), and is controlled by the timing control circuit (78) to supply power. To the feeders (16) of both the upper sorter U and the lower sorter L. Power is supplied to operate the solenoids (276) (278) in response to a command from the timing control (78). When used as described below, the solenoids (276) (278) are used to remove the dust collected in the observation station and the substances that have entered from the outside during the operation of the sorting device S. Air is periodically blown through the observation stations V of U and L.

In the illumination sensitivity circuit (74) (FIG. 16), the photodiode (280) that senses the background illumination is arranged in the vicinity of the background illumination lamp (44) (FIG. 2) to detect the sensed optical state. Is sent to the first input of the differential amplifier through the conversion amplifier (282). The differential tial amplifier (284) receives at another input the sensitivity level of background illumination set in the potentiometer (286) and is fed through the buffer amplifier (288). The potentiometer (286) settings are controlled by the control knob (290) (Fig. 5) on the control panel (254).

The illumination sensitivity circuit (74) (FIG. 16) includes a sensing photodiode (292) which is near each of the main illumination lamps (42) at both the upper and lower sorter stations of the sorter S. It is provided in. The photodiode (292) forms an electrical signal indicative of the sensed lighting condition. These signals are supplied through the buffer amplifier (294) and sent to the differential amplifier (296). The differential amplifier (296) also receives at its other input a reference level signal sent through the buffer amplifier (298) by the sensitivity setting potentiometer (300). The setting of the potentiometer (300) is controlled by the sensitivity adjustment knob (302) (Fig. 5) of the control panel (254).

The signals formed by the differential amplifiers (284) (296) are such that the signal voltage is at a given illumination level of the viewing station indicated by the potentiometers (286) (300) and the photodiodes (280) (292). ) Shows the difference from the actual lighting condition sensed by). The differential signal formed in the amplifiers (284) (296) is sent to an operational amplifier (304) which functions as a voltage-to-current converter. The output current from the operational amplifier (304) thus appears as the difference between the predetermined illumination intensity at the observation station V and the actual illumination intensity. This difference controls the amount of current flowing through the power transistor (312) (FIG. 18) connected to the output of the operational amplifier (304). The power transistors (312) are each connected by a conductor (314) via a polarity reversal switch (316) to one of the lamps (42) in the lamp control circuit (70) (FIG. 18). The transistor (312) controls the level of the electric current passing through the lamp (42) to regulate it, so that the intensity of the illumination given by the lamp (42) can be controlled.

The conductor (310) provides a negative input to the amplifier (304) (FIG. 16) whose voltage is dependent on the current flowing through the resistor (317) (FIG. 18) in the emitter of the power transistor (312). Which represents the amount of current flowing through the linked lamps (42). The voltage of the conductor (310) is such that the current through the associated lamp is connected to the first input of the comparator amplifier (320) through the connecting resistor (318) of the lamp control circuit and is the magnitude of the current through the lamp (42). It means that it represents The other input of the comparator amplifier (320) is supplied with a reference current which is the maximum rated current of the lamp (42) formed by the resistor network (322). A pair of indicators housed in the control panel (254) as long as the current level through the conductor (310) and through the lamp (42) does not exceed the rated current of the lamp (42) represented by the resistor network (322). Of the (324), the indicator light-emitting diode (324a) is excited to display that the rated current of the lamp is not exceeded. When the comparator (320) senses that the current through the lamp (42) exceeds the rating, the comparator (320) changes state and instead takes the place of another indicator light emitting diode (324 b) in the pair (324). ) Is excited. The light emitting diode (324a) preferably emits green light, while the light emitting diode (324b) preferably emits red light. However, it should be understood that different colors of light may be used as well.

The conductor (310) is also connected to the comparator operational amplifier (330) through the resistor (328). The amplifier (330) also functions as a current sensor, pulling the common output conductor or bus (332) low until it is sensed that all of the lamps (42) are conducting at least a minimum current. Hold. Conductor (332) is connected to transistor (334) and the transistor is not conducting as long as conductor (332) is low, indicating that not all lamps (42) are conducting current. It When the transistor (334) is non-conducting, the oscillator (336) provides a pulsed current signal to the transistor (338), as shown by the waveform (340) (Fig. 21), which signals the ramp start circuit. It is commonly supplied to the primary side (344) (FIG. 18) of the transformer (346) of (80). The primary side (344) of the transformer (346) forms a voltage waveform (348) (FIG. 22) with a positive transient or spike caused by its inductive reactance. The waveform (348) on the primary side (344) of the transformer (346) includes a large negative pulse (350) (FIG. 21) on the secondary coil (352) of the transformer (346), which pulse is a ramp. It is sent to the lamp (42) until it becomes conductive.

Once all of the comparator-operated amplifiers (330) (FIG. 16) sense current flowing through the lamps associated with it, the voltage on conductor (332) transitions to a high level, causing the transistor It conducts (334) electrically and suppresses the oscillator (336) from further forming a pulse.

One blade of the lamp on / off switch (252) (FIGS. 5, 15 and 16) is also electrically connected to the inhibit input terminal of the oscillator (336) (FIG. 16). , The oscillator 336 is prevented from forming a ramp start pulse when the switch 252 transitions to the off position (FIG. 16). When this blade of switch (252) transitions to the on position, solid state relay (262) (Fig. 15) is energized through conductor (352).

The inhibit input terminal of the oscillator (336) is also electrically connected to the oscillator inhibit transistor (354) (FIG. 16), the operation of which is controlled by the lamp current inhibit transistor (356). A lamp current suppression transistor (356) is electrically connected to each base of the transistors (306). When transistor (356) is energized, the collector of transistor (306) is grounded, inhibiting current flow through lamp power transistors (312) (42). Transistor (356) activates transistor (306) when it receives a lamp stop signal from timing circuit (78) through conductor (358) or by releasing switch (244) (Figs. 15 and 16). Suppresses the oscillator (336) through the transistor (354). Damping capacitors (359) slowly discharge current through the closed switch (244), preventing sudden changes in the polarity of the lamp (42).

The current conductor (332) is connected to the lamp timing circuit (78) (FIG. 17) by the conductor (364) through the two inverters (360) and (362), and the capacitor amplifier is connected according to the voltage level of the conductor (364). It indicates to the timing circuit (78) whether all of the lamps (42) sensed by (330) are conducting current. The transistor (366) becomes conductive when the voltage state of the conductor (364) indicates that all lamps are receiving current, allowing current to pass through the relay coil (368) and the position of the contact (370). Is electrically connected so that the indicator light emitting diodes (324) and (326) can emit light.

In the timing control circuit (78) (FIG. 17), the main delay monostable multivibrator or one-shot (372) outputs the output pulse after the time determined by the time control circuit (376) has passed. (374) (FIG. 23) is formed. The main delay time interval is typically on the order of 15 or 20 minutes, which reverses the polarity of the current flowing through the lamp's reverse contact (316) (Fig. 18) through the lamp (42). Represents the approximate time interval required for. The pulse (374) formed on the main delay monostable multivibrator (372) (Fig. 17) is further fed as an input signal to the monostable multivibrator (378), where the conductor (382) feed stop pulse. A waveform (380) (FIG. 23) is formed and a ramp reversal pulse (384) is formed on the conductor (386). The ramp reversal monostable multivibrator (388) (FIG. 17) forms the ramp reversal pulse (390) (FIG. 23) in response to the pulse (384) sent to the bistable switch or toggle (392). The toggle (392) changes state as shown by the waveform (394). The waveform (394) makes the transistor pair (396) conductive when it goes high, passing current through the ramp reversing relay coil (398) and controlling the direction of current flow through the lamp (42) (316). ) (FIG. 18) is changed. When the toggle (392) also goes to a low logic level, the transistor pair (396) becomes non-conducting, interrupting current flow through the lamp reverse relay (398) and repositioning the contact (316). The pulse (384) generated in the monostable multivibrator (378) is sent as input to the ramp stop monostable multivibrator (400). The monostable multivibrator (400) forms a lamp stop pulse (402) and an opposite logic level pulse (406) through the conductor (404), the pulse (406) passing through the conductor (358) to the lamp current suppression transistor (356). ) (Fig. 16) to block the flow of current through the lamp (42).

The lamp stop pulse (406) of the conductor (404) is provided as an input to the NAND gate (407). The gate (407) also receives as an input the voltage state of the conductor (364), which indicates that the lamp (42) is conducting. As shown by waveform (408) (Fig. 23), after changing the state of the lamp stop pulse (402), the lamp (42) is made conductive after a slight delay and then applied to the gate (407). The voltage level of the conductor (364) goes high. The waveform (408) of the conductor (364) is also sent as an input through the conductor (410) to the background blowdown monostable multivibrator or one shot (412). The multivibrator (412) supplies the pulse (414) (FIG. 23) to the gate (407) through the conductor (416) and the pulse (418) to the transistor (422) through the contactor (420). The transistor (422) conducts the transistor (424) (426) when it receives the pulse (418), while sending the pulse (418) to the power control board (275), sending current to the background blowdown solenoid (276) (278). ) (Fig. 15) and blow air from the observation station V to remove accumulated dust and other fine particles and clean it.

The NAND gate (407) is connected through the inverter gate (428), the low pass filter (430) and the inverter (432) to form an ejector cancellation pulse (434) (FIG. 23), and the pulse causes the transistor (436). ) Is turned on, and the OR gate (108) of the delay circuit (64) (FIG. 12) is suppressed to maintain the ejector cancellation pulse (434).

The inverted pulse (434) (FIG. 23) is sent as an input from the inverter (428) to the NAND gate (438) (FIG. 17), and the NAND gate is pulsed as a second input through the conductor (382). Take (384). The gate (438) forms a feeder cancellation pulse (440) (FIG. 23) which is sent in parallel to the NOR gate (446) after being inverted by the inverters (442) (444) (FIG. 17). The feeder cancel pulse (440) is sent from the gate (446) through the inverter (448) to the pair of feeder cancel transistors (450). Transistor (450), through conductor (452), prevents the feeders (16) of sorters U and L from operating while the feeder cancel pulse (440) persists. Each feeder cancel transistor (450) is connected through one of the gates (446) to the feeder control switch (458) on the feeder control panel (460) (Fig. 6) via the inverter (454). The operator can stop both the upper and lower feeders (16).

The inverter (460) (FIG. 17), the low pass filter (462) and the other inverter (464) are electrically connected to the inverter (442) and fed from the gate (438) to the feeder cancellation pulse (440). Is provided in inverted form as the main delayed mono-reset pulse (466) (FIG. 23) through the conductor (468) (FIG. 17) as input to the main delayed monostable (372). The pulse (466) resets the monostable (372) when the reversal of the lamp is completed, and is controlled by the timing control circuit (78) at the place where it is used to perform the chamber cleaning function.

The lamp reverse override switch 470 (FIGS. 5 and 17) is provided on the front panel (254). When the override switch (470) (Fig. 17) is pressed, the monostable multivibrator (472) forms a pulse that activates the main delay monostable (372) at a faster rate than the normal state change. Can be changed. When the switch (470) is pressed, the chamber cleaning function and the lamp reversing function are performed as if the normal delay time of the monostable (372) has passed.

In the practice of the present invention, the products to be sorted are placed in a hopper (10), forming several parallel streams that drop downwards in trays (14) (18), after which the observation stations are Pass through the V. As mentioned above, these streams may be such that the individual grains are next to each other and it is not necessary to separate the product grains one at a time vertically before passing through the observation station V.

In the observation station V, the photodiode cells arranged in line in each of the optical observation stations O sense the subdivided portion of the area of the observation chamber V in front of the station O. . The optical sensor photocell (34) forms an electrical signal indicative of the light that senses the product if it is in front of it. The signal from the optical sensor photocell (34) is continuously electrically sampled or multiplexed by the multiplexer (90) and compared with the reference signal of the comparator amplifier (104) of the classification circuit (62). A comparison is made to determine if the product should pass. If the product should not pass, the output pulse (105) (Fig. 19) is formed, the monostable (110) forms the pulse (111) through the delay circuit (64), and the ejector prepulse as pulse (117). It is sent to the drive circuit (66) and the ejector drive circuit (68) to excite the solenoid (48) and blow air through the ejector jet J in the observation station V to blow away the rejected products and A similar sort operation is performed by putting the chute in the chute 50 and passing it through the feeder trays 14 and 18 of the lower sorter L. Products that pass the lower sorter L are fed from a tray or chute (52) into a suitable container. Products rejected by the lower sorter L may be discarded, or may be supplied together with the new incoming grains into the chute or hopper (10) of the upper sorter U for further sorting. Do.

During the sorting operation, the intensity of the current flowing through the lamp (42) is constantly monitored to see if the rated current to each lamp is exceeded. If the rated current of one of the lamps (42) is exceeded, the warning light emitting diode of the associated diode pair (324) will be activated to indicate that the rated current is exceeded. The lamp (42) can then be replaced. Further, the output of the illumination intensity of each of the lamps (42) during the sorting operation is compared with the reference value. When the illumination level of a lamp deviates from the reference level, the amount of current sent to the lamp (42) is adjusted so that the illumination intensity output of the lamp (42) returns to the reference level. Be done.

When the time set by the main delay monostable (372) has elapsed, the feeder stop pulse (384) and the lamp stop pulse (406) are formed, and the polarity of the current supplied to the fluorescent lamp (42) changes. Reverse. Oscillator 336 is activated and supplies pulses to the respective pulse transformer circuits of lamp L. The pulse is delivered until all of the lamps (42) are illuminated. At this time, the sorting work is restarted.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is provided as an example, and is the same as the illustrated circuit and structure details in size, shape and materials, elements, circuit elements, wiring and connections. Thus, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sorting machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view in which a part of a product observation station of the sorting machine of FIG. 1 is cut away.

3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.

5 is a front view of the device panel of the sorter of FIG. 1. FIG.

6 is a front view of the device panel of the sorter of FIG. 1. FIG.

7 is a front view of the device panel of the sorter of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the sorter of FIG.

9 is an electric circuit diagram of a sorting channel in the sorting machine of FIG.

10 is an electric circuit diagram of a sorting channel of another embodiment of the sorting machine of FIG.

11 is an electric circuit diagram of a part of the circuits of FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG.

12 is an electric circuit diagram of a part of the circuits shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG.

13 is an electric circuit diagram of a part of the circuits of FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG.

14 is an electric circuit diagram of a part of the circuits shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG.

15 is an electric circuit diagram of a part of the circuits of FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG.

16 is an electric circuit diagram of a part of the circuits of FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG.

FIG. 17 is an electric circuit diagram of a part of the circuits shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

18 is an electric circuit diagram of a part of the circuits of FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG.

FIG. 19 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the circuits of FIGS. 9 and 10, although the time scale is not common.

FIG. 20 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the circuits of FIGS. 9 and 10, although the time scales are not common.

FIG. 21 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the circuits of FIGS. 9 and 10, although the time scale is not common.

FIG. 22 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the circuits of FIGS. 9 and 10, although the time scale is not common.

FIG. 23 is a waveform diagram illustrating the operation of the circuits of FIGS. 9 and 10, although the time scales are not common.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S sorter L bottom sorter U top sorter V observation station E electronic processing circuit F frame J ejector K lamp control circuit O optical station P power supply

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A device for selecting an agricultural product based on the color of the agricultural product when the agricultural product descends in an illuminated observation room as a stream, wherein (a) the agricultural product is provided in the observation chamber. An optical station means for sensing the light reflected from the produce as it passes through the observation station, and (b) the optical station means senses and senses the light reflected from the stream of produce. A plurality of optical sensors that form an electric signal representing light are arranged in a line, and (c) means for continuously sampling the electric signal from the optical sensor in the optical station means, and (d) continuous DC-coupled processing circuit means to determine whether a product should pass by comparing the electrically sampled electrical signal with a reference signal; and (e) rejecting rejected products from those determined to pass. Ejector means for, (f) means for forming the reference signal of the processing circuit means, (g) means for periodically sampling the level of the reference signal, (h) the means for continuously sampling is A means for activating the means for periodically sampling, and (i) means for adjusting the level of the periodically sampled reference signal to maintain it at a substantially constant level. Agricultural product sorter.